Table of Contents

Table of Contents Help

The tabs on the right are shortcuts to where you have been:

  • Previous Screen
  • Previous Articles
  • Previous Categories
  • Start Page
  • Hide Entire Menu

Swiping to the left will take you to the previous screen.

The folder icon indicates that more content is available. Click on the icon or the associated text, or swipe to the right to see the additional content.

Other Emotional Issues

Panic And Anxiety

Successful surrogate tapping for surgery anxiety

Important Note: This article was written prior to 2010 and is now outdated. Please use my newest advancement, Optimal EFT. It is more efficient, more powerful and clearly explained in my free e-book, The Unseen Therapist™.  Best wishes, Gary

This case by Sharon Wikoff emphasizes an important use of Surrogate EFT where her client, J.R., just wasn't open to tapping. Sharon gives us the details behind her procedures and provides a possible model for our own uses.

Surrogate tapping often brings up the question as to whether or not we need permission to do it. I cover this question rather thoroughly in Can we do EFT surrogately or through mental intention? If so, do we need permission?


By Sharon Wikoff

J.R. is a 70-year-old lady in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's disease who became very nervous just prior to leaving to go to the hospital for outpatient surgery on her foot. I estimated her 0-10 intensity at 8/9 by her body language and actions.

I chose to do surrogate tapping (tapping myself in her behalf) because, several months earlier, I had seen she was quite anxious. I asked her if she'd like me to do some energy work with her and briefly explained the process. She responded with, "No, I don't believe in that!" Since she is a very determined lady, I didn't want to pursue it further. She just wasn't open to EFT and to "push" it on her would have only aggravate her anxiety.

Here's how the session went....

After watching television for about 10 minutes and appearing quit comfortable, she became very still... actually motionless, her face was very sad. He eyes were fixated on the television. She broke her stillness to bring her poodle over to me. She is very attached to her poodle and seldom puts her down or gives her to anyone else to hold. Then she walked back to the couch and resumed her stillness, folding her arms tight against her body and sitting in a partially bent over position. She did not move from that position for several minutes and did not respond to any conversation I attempted to begin. She appeared to be extremely anxious and upset about going to the hospital.

Round 1: The first round I did with a set-up regarding anxiety over the upcoming surgery. I visualized the tapping on myself as well as on her. Sometimes I say each set-up statement twice as well as tapping on her point twice...the first time seeing it on myself, the second time visualizing the tapping on the client. My attention goes back and forth between the client and myself. Within minutes after that session, she crossed her legs and began swinging her leg/foot in a more relaxed, body language that I'm accustomed to seeing with her. However, she still remained fixated on the television, ignoring her poodle.

Round 2: Earlier that morning she had brought up the possibility of dying, so that is the theme of the set-up I used for this round. I again used surrogate tapping, visualizing the tapping on myself as well as on her. Within a minute after I finished that round, she looked over at me and smiled. She began talking to her dog (who was in my lap) in her usual tone. Next she came over and picked up the little dog from my arms. She immediately began loving her, talking to her and then she went back and sat down. She continued being comfortable as we sat watching the television, playing with her little dog.

I estimated her intensity level to be 0-1 at that time.

Round 3: However, when her daughter came in, she said, "I don't want to have the surgery." Her daughter, lovingly and lightheartedly joked with her. The daughter asked me to get her anxiety medicine so they would have it if she needed it on the way to the hospital. After they left I did one more round regarding anxiety. I've spoken with the daughter since and learned that J.R. did not need to use the medication.

She did have the surgery and all went very well.

Sharon Wikoff

FOR MORE EFT HELP ...

Explore our newest advancement, Optimal EFT™, by reading my free e-book, The Unseen Therapist™. More efficient. More powerful.